National signing day surprise as Auburn reels in 5-star DL Derrick Brown

Auburn took a major step forward in establishing a dominant defensive front on national signing day.

The Tigers closed out national signing day by adding 5-star defensive lineman Derrick Brown to its Class of 2016.

Despite losing defensive coordinator Will Muschamp in the offseason, Auburn managed to land two 5-star recruits on the line with Brown joining Marlon Davidson, 4-star linemen Antwuan Jackson and Nick Coe as well as junior college transfer Paul James III.

Signee Tashawn Manning is also a defensive lineman, but he will sit out 2016 as he recovers from battling Leukemia.

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Jordan D. Hill has covered high schools and athletes in the Bi-City area for the Ledger-Enquirer since January 2017. Prior to coming to Columbus, Hill was a freelancer for The Macon Telegraph and an intern for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A native of Jasper, Georgia, Hill is a graduate of Pickens High School and the University of Georgia.